Barton J. Bernstein, Professor of History, Emeritus at Stanford University, will deliver the third Gary R. Hess Lecture in Policy History on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 from 4-5:30 in Room 201 of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Professor Bernstein’s lecture is titled: “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.”

The Gary R. Hess Lecture in Policy History at Bowling Green State University is an annual lectureship held at the initiative of Dr. Hess’ former students to recognize his contributions to the profession and the university during his forty-five years of service from 1964 to 2009. For more on Dr. Hess’ contributions to scholarship and BGSU, please visit his emeritus faculty page.

Dr. Benjamin Greene, himself a Stanford alumnus, will be hosting an informal lunch with Professor Bernstein and BGSU graduate students the same day, discussing the craft of history and Bernstein’s approach. The lunch is from 12-1:30. For more on Dr. Greene’s research and teaching, please visit his faculty page.

Professor Bernstein is the most prominent and prolific scholar on the dropping of the atomic bombs. He has authored numerous ground-breaking articles on a range of ethical, environmental, and strategic issues associated with the bombings. His publications include studies on physicists Leo Szilard, Edward Teller, and J. Robert Oppenheimer, along with a number of influential essays on U.S. foreign policy and international crises, nuclear history, and modern science and technology policy. His articles have appeared in leading scholarly publications across several disciplines, including: Journal of American History, Diplomatic History, Foreign Affairs, Physics Today, Peace and Change, Political Science Quarterly, Nature, Scientific American, International Security, Peace Review, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Technology and Culture, Journal of Cold War Studies, Journal of Military History, Journal of Strategic Studies, and Pacific Historical Review.